Regular marked price: $12.95Discount Price: $10.36
Cost Savings: $2.59 (20%)Price fluctuation possible.
How soon does it ship: Normal ship time within one day
Shipping? Absolutely FREE if you qualify for Super Saver Shipping.
Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780812968774
ISBN number: 0812968778
Label: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 264
Printing Date: March 09, 2004
Publishing house: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Release Date: March 09, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 96132
Studio: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Other books you might be interested in perusing:
Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Moscow, May 1876. What would cause a talented student from a wealthy family to shoot himself in front of a promenading public? Decadence and boredom, it is presumed. But young sleuth Erast Fandorin is not satisfied with the conclusion that this death is an open-and-shut case, nor with the preliminary detective work the precinct has done–and for good reason: The bizarre and tragic suicide is soon connected to a clear case of murder, witnessed firsthand by Fandorin himself. Relying on his keen intuition, the eager detective plunges into an investigation that leads him across Europe, landing him at the center of a vast conspiracy with the deadliest of implications.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Because The Winter Queen was written by a Russian writer and translated for the English speaking market, it should come as no surprise that it's different from the mysteries that are usually available to us. It's not exactly exotic, but like the novels of Dostoevsky, the story flows from a perspective somewhat unfamiliar.
Erast Fandorin is a young man forced to make his own way following the death of his once-wealthy father. Practical and realistic, he leaves college and sets out to build a career in law enforcement. Erast is intelligent and perceptive, and his soon-to-retire boss sends him off to do a bit of investigating. He quickly and enthusiastically immerses himself into a deeper well of danger than he ever anticipated. There are several candidates for Queen in this mystery, and the inexperienced Erast commits series of errors in identifying her that could well end his life just as it's about to begin. The action in the final chapters of this novel is unexpected and chilling.
This is promising introduction to our intrepid Russian sleuth, and Russia's headlong rush into revolution during Erast's lifetime promises compelling stories to come. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and Russia is famous for its winters.
Rated by buyers 
-
I had been really excited about reading "The Winter Queen" for three main reasons: I am a huge fan of Russian literature, I loving reading books in the mystery genre, and because of all the great reviews written about this novel.
In a nutshell, I was sorely disappointed with this novel. "The Winter Queen" starts out great with its very first scene of a young gentleman committing suicide in a park in front of several witnesses..... Plus the main character, Erast Fandorin, has some great adventures though out this novel.
But as a whole, this novel wasn't great. There are plenty of slow/boring scenes in the novel and many scenes didn't flow well together. Plus the last chapter/ending of "The Winter Queen" sucked!! I've noticed that some of the reviewers of this novel have read "The Winter Queen" in Russian, so perhaps there is something to be said about reading a novel in the language in which it was actually written.
I also thought the main character, Erast Fandorin, to be likable, but an unexpected main character for this novel. He is 19 years old and just out of the academy. So, Erast Fandorin is a total newbie on the police force.... Yet he has quite the detective skills to outwit his superiors in being about to determine that there was more to the young man committing suicide in the park than met the eyes.... Fandorin uncovers a lot of information that no one else uncovers, which I find unbelievable for someone his age and with such little experience in his field..... Intuition can take you only so far in this life, before you need some experience to go with it..
More incredible is the fact that Fandorin's superiors allow him to travel across Europe along without any back up in search of a lead to the case. This young man is barely out of the academy and has little experience being a police office, so why send him out to investigate a lead on his own???? The point is that as a lead character, Erast Fandorin, doesn't seem to be very credible, which is another reason why I didn't enjoy the book that much.
Rated by buyers -
In Germany it was student duelling - with sabres, as Mark Twain so vividly described. In late 19 century Russia it was suicide, sometimes performed in bizarre ways - one loaded chamber in a revolver [the reference to "American Roulette" is delicious]. In this case, the victim is a new orphan, having inherited a vast fortune. He doesn't leave life intestate, however. His will stipulates the property and money go to a British aristocrat who operates an international network of "progressive" orphanages. This raises a host of questions which will be sorted out by a new member of Moscow's Criminal Investigation Department.
In this rollicking story of a Moscow generally beyond our ken, Akunin introduces Erast Fandorin. He's a young man of aristocratic lineage lacking the financial security of Kokorin, the youthful suicide. Erast must make his way with his skills, and these are many. Language, in particular, is a significant talent, which is why he's sent to London seeking more information. He stakes out The Winter Queen - a down at heels hotel - because one of his contacts, the gorgeous Amalia Bezhetskaya seems to be using the hotel as a "drop". Tracking down people in London is risky at the best of times, but Fandorin, who is clearly too trusting, falls into one trap after another in his quest. He's also, in the best Russian tradition, too respectful of the nobility - until they prove unworthy of it.
Akunin is able to mix plot and characters with seamless talent. He builds this story and those involved with a deft touch. At less than 250 pages, to incorporate so much into such a limited space takes a rare skill. Nor, even with the economy of words, does Akunin leave anything out. The story flows and builds, starting from an incident in a Moscow park and culminating in a global conspiracy. It's a stimulating read and one which any "mystery" reader would enjoy - as would nearly everybody. stephen a. haines - [Ottawa, Canada]]
Rated by buyers -
This period novel is mostly to be appreciated for its atmosphere. It is set in Czarist Russia with a brief detour to nineteenth century London. Erast Fandorin, a minor functionary in the Imperial police, investigates a series of curious suicides/murders. Successes lead to rapid advancement and promotion within the service. It is the very first book in a series about Fandorin's adventures. The style reminded me a little of The Three Musketeers and other Dumas novels, with regard to the use of helpful coincidences. It also resembles some of the writing of Arturo Perez-Reverte which captures the atmosphere of period Spain. Most fascinating was the description of the hierarchy of Russian society. An appendix lists thirteen ranks with civil and military equivalents, so readers do not get lost. The international conspiracy elements, on the other hand, struck me as anachronistic, speaking more to a modern paranoia. Interestingly, the book is politically disengaged. Perhaps avoiding politics and religion is the best way to retain readers. The Soviet Revolution is looming yet neither rich nor poor express monarchist, revolutionary or any religious sentiments. Apart from these criticisms it is a fine read for lovers of historic novels and international literature.
Rated by buyers -
I knew nothing of Erast Fandorin nor of Boris Akunin, nor of Grigory Shalvovich Chkhartishvili, the actual author of the series until this very first book. I had heard of it from LibraryThing discussions. I had asked for recommendations from the peopl on that web site for an intriguing mystery read. Someone suggested the Erast Fandorin series. I have been reading motly police procedural mysteries that are st in the modern day world. This was kind of stretching it for me. I was glad I took the chance.
The book begins with a very young very purple Erast, our hero. The author puts him through a number of predicaments, as ll mystery writers are bound to do, but he does so in a very Russian and a very different way. The key attraction to this book is that no one is as they seem they are, in other mysteries, one can almost always discern the villains from the allies by the way they are described. Some obfuscation are always present, but the usual modus operandi is to inject doubt into every character. In this case the characters are written in a neutral enough or a generally positive manner. So much so that when the characters do turn, one is shocked by the turn of events.
The other attractive thing about this particular book is in its descriptions of imperial Russia and its description of the people who populate this landscape. It is all quite intersting and pulled me into the narrative.
My only probleminvolves the last little tidbit at the end of the mystery. I thought that last little episode was patched on and felt very forced and extemporaneous. The mood and the tempo of the story was disrupted unnecessarily bu the addition of the last 10-15 pages. I would assume that this last bit is going to affect the rest of the series, or else I would be quite ticked at Boris Akunin for adding that last bit.
Find other books like this one:
